Directions Questionnaire: Which Track Gets Your Case

When the court issues a Directions Questionnaire under CPR Part 26, it is asking one fundamental question: what is this case worth and how complex is it? Your answer determines whether the claim lands on the small claims track, fast track, or multi-track. For housing disrepair work, this decision shapes everything from disclosure obligations to expert evidence and ultimately what costs you can recover from the defendant landlord.

The small claims track covers cases valued at £10,000 or less with limited costs recovery. Fast track handles claims up to £25,000 with a trial window of one day. Multi-track is reserved for higher value or complex matters. In HDR claims, the tension sits between general damages for discomfort and inconvenience, special damages for damaged belongings, and any personal injury element. Under the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Conditions Claims, you should have a clear picture of quantum before proceedings start, but many CMCs still undervalue at intake.

The court retains discretion under CPR 26.8 to allocate based on the nature of the remedy sought, not just the sum claimed. A case seeking specific performance of repair obligations might warrant fast track even if damages are modest. Conversely, inflated claims designed to escape small claims restrictions will be seen through by district judges who handle these lists daily.

Proper completion of the Directions Questionnaire requires accurate valuation of every head of loss plus realistic assessment of trial length and expert evidence needs. If you claim the property requires three experts and a two-day trial, expect the court to ask why on a £12,000 claim. The decision in Birmingham City Council v Lee confirmed that proportionality remains central to allocation decisions in housing cases.

Get this wrong at intake and you create problems that cannot be fixed later. Undervalue the claim and your client loses access to proper costs recovery. Overvalue it and the court reallocates downward, leaving your file economics destroyed. The Directions Questionnaire is not administrative paperwork. It is the moment where your early case assessment faces judicial scrutiny.